History

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The History of Sierra Leone Thesis: The people of Sierra Leone pre-colonization, had a rich, civilized culture, unlike many Europeans of the time believed.



Ethnic Groups

• Sierra Leone contains about 18 different ethnic groups.
• The two main ethnic groups are the Mende and the Temne Tribes.
  • The Mende and Temne Tribes take up about 30% of the population each.

Mende Tribe
Found in the East and South of Sierra Leone.
Jobs

• The main occupation of tribe members is rice and cocoa farming, yet they also harvest cassava, yams, ginger, peanuts, and palm oil.

Mende Rice Harvest

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Education

• Education was of high value to the Mende.
• Men and women were separately inducted through group ceremonies
  • The Sande female society

-Wear special Sande masks that display ideal female beauty and represent their woman ancestor whom the society is named after.

Sande Mask

• The Poro male society
• Both educational societies taught the young tribe members about community morals and social expectations.
• Additional Mende societies were responsible for the teaching of spiritual and medical needs, which often overlapped, for the tribe.

Art

• Mainly centered around initiation and healing.
  • Examples: Wooden masks, twin figures, and utility tools such as medicine objects and pulleys, all intricately designed with carvings
• The female figure was a main artistic subject because women were honored for their healing abilities.

Language

• Mende, Kuranko, Kono, Yalunka, Susu, and Vai which all fall under the Mande group of African Languages.
• Very closely related to the Mande language group, meaning they migrated from around the Sudan to the Northern area of Africa between 200 to 1500 A.D. (2)

Religion

• Ngewo is the main religious figure (God).
  • Mende people believe he is the creator and ruler of the universe
• Ngewo is assisted by the ancestors and other spirits (Nga-fa)
• The Mende prayed to Ngawo and Nga-fa for protection and fertility for themselves as individuals and for the entire community
• Masks were made for dancers who were embodied by the Nga-fa during religious ceremonies so that they resembled the spirits whom possessed them

Temne Tribe
Found in the center and Northwest of Sierra Leone.

Jobs

• The main occupation of Temne people was rice farming, but they also harvested peanuts, cotton, cassava, millet, palm kernels, and kola nuts. They also raised cattle and goats, as well as being well known fishermen.
• Between the 16th and 18th century, hundreds of thousands of Temne were taken to European countries, including America, as slaves.

Education

• Men and women divided into separate societies.
  • The Bondo female society
  • The Poro male society

Art

• Spirit masks and utility tools.
• Much focus on the female figure.

Temne wooden carving of the female figure

Language

• Temne, Krim, Kisi, Bullom, Sherbro, and Limba which all fall under the Mel group of African Language.

Religion

• Believe in one God and many smaller ancestors and spirits who act on the main God’s will.
• Main ceremonies occur for initiation into educational societies and funerals of important figures.

Structure of the Tribes

Chiefdoms

• Chiefs of tribes were elected by the people

• They were confined to choosing from candidates who were from ‘crowning families’ only, though.
• The chiefs had to consult with a council of sixty to ninety village headmen.
  • This kept them in close touch with the needs and wants of their people.
  • Democratic checks and balances, along with limited power.
• The chief headed important traditional ceremonies.
• Leaders who deviated from the laws made by the society would be removed from power.

http://www.history.com/topics/print/sierra-leone
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0861084.html
http:www.library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/search.php?fulltext=colonization+in+sierra+leone&action
http://www.artsconnected.org/artsnetmn/identity/africa.html
http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/2062-524848
http://www.barakatgallery.com